“The president sent me here, he asked me for a few things: he asked me to bring love, the word of love and communion, and he said that this is not the place for a rally”, said the minister of the AGU (Attorney General of the Union), this Thursday (4) in Corpus Christi, during the meeting in São Paulo.
It was there as a left-wing minority, representing a government unpopular among evangelicals, and stood in the corner of the main electric trio while political opponents of the Lula government spoke.
The attorney general also commented on the possibility of being nominated once again to the STF (Supreme Federal Court), after the Senate barred his name in April.
He said he had learned to “put his life in God’s hands” and stated that he would await the next events with serenity. “I will wait for God’s answer. I will wait for the president’s decision.” Lula has already stated that he intends to send his name to the court again.
The minister criticized the politicization of the debate surrounding his candidacy. According to him, the process ended up being conducted with an excessive focus on the political dispute.
“Unfortunately, the handling of the political issue was seen as a way of making the discussion central. I don’t think that process represented the spirit of the majority of the Brazilian people,” he stated.
Despite the criticism, Messias said he respected the result and reaffirmed his confidence in democratic institutions. “I believe in democracy, I believe in our institutions and I believe in the power of dialogue.”
The speech takes place at a time when the government seeks to expand dialogue with evangelical leaders, a group in which Lula (PT) faces historically high rejection rates. Asked about how the president could improve his image in churches, the minister stated that the strategy involves government actions, not speeches.
“The president has already been doing this since the first day of his term, working to pacify this nation, take care of families, take care of our families’ children,” he said. The Baptist deacon, a rare member of Lula’s top tier, added that politics must be guided by values such as “love, justice, truth, communion and forgiveness”.
Messias also spoke about the recent period of political uncertainty surrounding his nomination to the Supreme Court, which ended up not materializing. Throughout the interview, the minister repeatedly used religious references to defend a message of national reconciliation. According to him, the country needs to overcome divisions and cultivate an environment of mutual understanding.
“I have learned my entire life the need for forgiveness and reconciliation,” said Messias, who participated in the March for the first time in 2023, year one of Lula’s third term, and was booed at the time when he mentioned the president on the microphone. “What I have done is sow good, sow peace, sow truth, justice and kindness.”
He also stated that he spent the last few months in reflection, “praying for my family, which is the most important thing for me.” “I’m standing here, thanking and praising God for all things, the good and the bad, and asking Him to guide my life in the next plans.”
